Magians (Old Persian Maguš): expert in Iranian religious -probably:
oral- traditions, perhaps belonging to a Median
tribe. In 522 BC, a Magian with the name Gaumâta
attempted a coup d' état in the Persian empire, but he was killed
and succeeded by Darius.

In classical Antiquity, the Magians had a great
reputation as astrologers; the Magians who came to visit the baby Jesus
(Gospel of Matthew) are well known.